You’ve found the house, survived the loan process, and closed the deal. One final step to wrap up the entire homebuying experience: Moving!

 

By following these helpful tips to find the best moving company for your needs, you won’t have anything to worry about other than how to organize your beautiful new home.

 

Ask for Recommendations. Your Realtor and Mortgage Consultant have extensive experience and contacts in the housing industry. Ask if they know of a respected moving company they enjoy working with and would be willing to recommend.

 

Start Locally. Determine which moving companies have a strong presence and a good reputation in the community. Begin researching these companies by calling them and verifying their business details:

·      Full company name

·      Number of years in business

·      Company address

·      Local and toll-free phone numbers

·      DOT and MC license numbers

·      Email addresses

 

Get an Estimate. Pricing will obviously play a role in your decision-making process. Request an in-home visit to get the most accurate estimate and to learn more about the moving details offered. If a moving company will not come to your home for an estimate or requires a cash deposit upfront, move on to the next company, as this is a red flag.

 

Exceptional Customer Service. From the beginning, make sure the customer service is meeting your expectations. Don’t settle for a company that is not going above and beyond to make this process easy and seamless for you.

 

Licensing Numbers. Request the moving company’s DOT and MC licensing numbers and verify them on SaferSys.org. Moving companies are required by law to be licensed and insured. Ensure your choice is before signing papers and moving forward with their services.

 

Member of Organizations. A reputable company will be a member of a well-known industry-related organization such as the American Moving and Storage Association (AMSA) and the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Check out the company’s involvement and ratings.

 

Think you may have been scammed? Here are a few resources to file a complaint:

Better Business Bureau - https://www.bbb.org/consumer-complaints/file-a-complaint/get-started

 

U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration - http://nccdb.fmcsa.dot.gov

 

Consumer Complaint Hotline – 1-888-DOT-SAFT (1-888-368-7238)